LT Soccer Inches Closer to Toyota Park, Clinches First Pepsi Showdown Round

Things just keep rolling for the Lyons Township High School boys soccer team as it defeated West Chicago High School 1-0 in Pepsi Showdown first round qualification.

The Lions, whose regular season record stands at 2-0-2, won all three of their qualifying matches in the Marriott Group—one of eight groups, each consisting of four teams, where the team with the best record moves on— to advance to the knockout stages of the Pepsi Showdown, the annual Illinois tournament with the championship played at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, home of the Chicago Fire.

Lyons next faces Downers Grove North on Sept. 16; whichever team comes out on top plays the winner of Morton versus Geneva for a spot in the championship match, which Lyons nearly clinched last year after a double overtime 2-1 loss to Neuqua Valley.

After defeating Oswego High School 4-0 on Sept. 7 in the first round of group games, LT won its second pool play match away from home against Loyola Academy 3-2 in exciting fashion on Sept. 9. Then, on Sept. 11, the Lions' Den student section was in full force to see their beloved boys in blue and gold emerge winners 1-0 over West Chicago High School.

A lone Peter Gabrek header in the first half accounted for all the scoring, though in fairness, the hosts could have strengthened their advantage on several occasions.

And having played a combined total of eight games together, Gabrek, a senior starter, says the squad's building of team chemistry aids their play on the field.

"As a team, we spend a lot of time together and I think that pays off in the way we play," Gabrek said. "It's a great group of kids and everyone gets along."

In their second match in the Marriott pool, versus Loyola Academy on Sept. 9, the Lions came from behind to grab a 2-1 lead, only to see their advantage slip away when a Ramblers equalizing goal came 15 minutes from time.

Senior forward Horacio Sanchez, who opened the scoring for Lyons, put away his second of the match with eight minutes remaining to give the West suburban side the victory, 3-2. Sophomore Brett Heimerdinger also found the back of the net to add to his impressive first year on the varsity roster.

LT will matchup against nationally ranked side Downers Grove North High School in the Pepsi Showdown quarterfinals on home turf, 1301 Cossitt Ave., on Sept. 16.

Senior midfielder Kyle Kurfirst commented on the quality of the Lions' impending opposition.

"Downers North is one of the best teams in the state right now," Kurfirst said. "They have athleticism, skill, and a high work rate. We need to match their energy on Tuesday and Thursday. [Both games] will be two very close battles, but they'll be a good measuring stick for us."

Kurfirst mentions a meeting between the two sides on Tuesday as well as Thursday, as the teams clash in a conference fixture at Downers Grove on Sept. 14 prior to their Pepsi Showdown match on Sept. 16.

Gabrek said the conference game can be extremely helpful to the Lions' Pepsi Showdown aspirations.

"Getting to see [Downers Grove North] before the Showdown quarterfinal is a good thing for us because we'll get to see what kind of team they are," Gabrek said. "We'll know what to expect for Thursday."

Still, Kurfirst claims Tuesday's outing will be treated no differently than any other.

"This week is always a little crazy, as we have to balance conference games with Pepsi Showdown games, but our mindset doesn't change for either type of game," Kurfirst said.